Fatima Haliru —
Nigeria’s Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola yesterday during a budget defence with the House of Representatives’ Committee on Works in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, questioned the shortage of young engineers and technical officers due to the embargo placed on employment by the government and said it was adversely affecting the ministry he presides.
The Minister also revealed that N10.4 trillion was being owed highway contractors by the Nigerian government.
“The shortage of younger engineers/technical officers in the ministry as a result of embargo on employment is affecting proficient project supervision at the sites, he said.
“It is expected that more sources of funding of highway projects be explored as well as lifting the embargo on employment of needed engineers/technical officers at middle level to enhance supervision of projects”
“The main challenge to highways development in the country remains Inadequate funding. As at date, the government is committed to highway contractors to the tune of about N10.4trillion while a total of about N765billion are unpaid certificates for executed works.
